Magnetic valve-operating mechanism



16 z 4 i 5:5 2 E 16/ W. C. HARRIGAN.

MAGNETIC VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16. 1917.

1 ,33 1 25 6 Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET l.

illlllllllllll l hllllllf INVENTOR Mam W. C. HARRIGAN.

MAGNETIC VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I6| l9]?- Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR r. 7/1111 arlrlllrll w 2 ATTORNEY W. C. HARRIGAN.

MAGNETIC IALVE OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I6. IBII.

Patented Feb. 17,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A TTORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM c. HARRIGAN, or JERSEY CITY, NEW JEnsnY, nssrenon To, ROWLAND A. NYE, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MAGNETIC VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HARRI- GAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in' Magnetic Valve-Operating Mechanism, of

. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrically controlled valves for internal combustion mo- Further my invention includes the employment of an electro-magnet of circular form, seated upon the housing for a valve,

whose stem extends axially through said magnet, and carries an armature in disk form, which is normally spring-held away from said magnet to hold the valve seated, and which armature, when drawn toward the magnet during the energizing of the latter, thereby serves to open the valve.

A further feature of the invention consists in the provision of an air space intermediate the magnet and the valve-housing, and the an elongated bearin arrangement of the armature and the interior of said magnet combine to serve as an air pump, to pass fresh air about said magnet and thereby to cool the latter during the operation of the motor.

The valve stem is caused to reciprocate 111 provided therefor in the valve housing to impart true axial move ment to said stem and valve, and an oil duct with radial orifices is provided in said stem for the purpose of lubricating said bearing.

My improved valve operating means are applicable both to the intake and exhaust valves of the motor, and I provide means of electrical distribution whereby each magnet controls a separate valve in the series of 1ntake and exhaust valves. In said system I am able to dispense with a secondary or half time shaft, and instead to mount the timers upon the crank shaft. This is accomplished through the provision of a double,

circular track, which crosses or intersects with itself once in its full extent, said track having a contact included in the circuit for a valve magnet, which is engaged by a brush or rotor on the crank shaft, in the same circuit, once in each two revolutions of the latter. y

Other features and advantages of my said invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a four cylinder motor, showing the general arrangement of the electro-magnets to operate the valves, and the circuits therefor.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial view of a cylinder, in section, showing a valve and electro-magnetic operating means therefor.

Fig. 4c is a partial view of a motor, broken away at the crank case, and showing the timer.

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing thetiming devices upon the crank shaft.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail thereof.

Fig. 7 is an end View of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof a timing drum.

For descriptive purposes I have shown my invention as applied to a four cylinder motor 1, having the intake valves 2, exhaust valves 3, and a separate electro-magnet 4:, of circular form, associated with each valve.

The particular relative arrangement of valve and magnet adopted by me is indicated in Fig. 3, wherein a valve, as 2, is shown in engagement with its seat 5 in the head of cylinder 6. The water jacket 7 in the example here given extends over the manifold, and is penetrated by a vertical.

elongated bearing 8 for the valve stem 9, which latter extends axially through a chamber 10 within the magnet 4. Carried by said valve stem 9, above the magnet, is an armature in the form of a flat disk 11, which, in the reciprocatory movements of the valve, is adapted to intermittently strike against an annulus 12, composed of sound deadening material, like rubber, located about the upper peripheral edge of the magnet, thereby, in a large measure, silencing the operation of the valve.

A spring, as 13, here shown as a helix surrounding the valve stem 9,within magnet chamber 10, bears against the armature 11,

to hold the valvenormally closed against its seat; and the operation of opening the valve is performed by energizing the magnet, which thereby attracts armature 11.

The instantaneous functioning of the electro-magnet causes a full opening of the valve to occur more quickly than through mechanical valve opening means, and thus a greater volumetric fuel charge is admitted to the cylinder; while, in the case of an exhaust valve, more time than otherwise is allowed for the efflux of the burnt gases.

The reciprocatory action of the disk shaped armature 11, in the operation of the motor, serves the purpose of an air pump,

a circulation of air through the hollow magnet being achieved by providing a support 14- for the magnet, having air passages 15 intermediate said magnet and the cylinder head, whereby the chamber 10 is in communication with the surrounding atmosphere. The passage of cool air thus induced through and about the magnet prevents it from overheating.

To prevent undue friction between the stem 9and bearing 8, I may provide an oil gland or passage 16 in the latter, and equip it with'an oil cup 16 said stem also having radial orifices 17, in communication with the gland, to permit constant lubrication between said stem and bearing. This expedient is necessary, since, on account of expansion due to the heat present, and the extended bearing provided for the stem, there would otherwise exist a liability of the valve stem sticking in its bearing.

The electrical operation of the valves is effected by including the electro-magnet for each valve in a separate circuit, as 18, which derives energy from a source of current 19, througha junction box or circuit branching device 20, the circuit being opened and closed as by a switch 21. Selective means for timing the application of the current to the magnets for the different valves of a motor, for regulating the period of energizing each electro-magnet in order that the valve it controls may be held open for a predetermined period, are set forth as follows;

Surrounding the crank shaft are a series of stationary drums 22, each carrying, interiorly, an inset strip of insulated conductive material 23. The strip 23 is provided with a groove 24, which is continued therefrom, as at 24 to extend twice around the inner circumference of a drum, and crosses itself once in the double path it describes. The said conductive strip 23 is provided with a terminal 25 which extends through the wall of the drum, and is included in the circuit for one of the electro-magnets.

In the example of a, four cylinder motor presented in this application, each cylinder having an intake and exhaust valve, I have illustrated distributing means whereby an electro-magnet for each valve is provided with a separate circuit. The operation in each instance is identical, but I provide, upon the crank shaft, a separate drum 22, with rotor 26, for each circuit.

The rotors each comprise an arm, having a collar 27, that is carried by a sleeve 28 fitting over the crank shaft 29, and rotatable therewith. Insulation 30 is provided between said sleeve and the crank shaft. The rotor carries a wheel 31, having a peripheral rib 32, which is engaged with the groove 24, 24-, in which it circles with the rotation of the crank shaft.

I11 every other revolution the wheel 31 travels against the conducting strip 23, closing the circuit during such conducting traverse, to thereby energize the valve operating magnet. .Also, once in every two revolutions of the crank shaft, the wheel 31, following its groove 24, 24, crosses the intersecting portion of said groove. In order to permit lateral play of the wheel 31, that it may follow the diagonal course of the groove 24-, 24, I may provide said wheel with elongated trunnions 33, capable of movement axially in spaced bearings therefor formed in the yoke 34-, which constitutes a part of the rotor.

A collecting ring 35 is carried by the crank shaft 29, and is supplied with current as by a brush 36.

The extent of the conductive strip 23, relative to the full length of the double cireular path traversed by the rotor, in two revolutions of the crank shaft, which thus corresponds with a complete cycle of a four stroke cycle motor, is sufiicient to maintain the valve in its open position during a useful period, determined, of course, by the design of the motor. F or instance, a conductive strip for an intake valve may be arranged so that the rotor begins contact therewith when the crank shaft is 10 past the upper dead center, and leaving contact at 40 past the lower dead center. Similarly the conductive strip for an exhaust valve may be arranged for contact to begin at 40 before the lower dead center, leaving contact at 5 past upper dead center. This is however purely an arbitrary arrangement, by way of suggestion.

Provision is made herein for adjusting the timing drums so as to vary the moments of beginning and leaving contact between conductive strip and rotor, to thus afi'ord means of valve regulation. This is accomplished. by rendering the drums 22 independently and revolubly adjustable, with means for securing them in their adjusted positions. As shown in Fig. 6, one of a pair of abutting drums has an extending, annular flange 37, which laps over the wall of the other drum of the pair, said other drum bearing, in its wall, a series of depressions 38, arranged, at predetermined intervals, around its peripheral surface, to receive a set screw 39 entered through the flange 37. There may be two or more set screws in a flange, adapted to enter respective depressions 38 for the different adjustments of the drums which may be made.

The series of drums 22 are held stationary by any suitable means. As here indicated the crank case 40 has a flange ll with set screws 42, to engage with peripheral depressions in the adjacent drum.

Variations may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of my invention, and arts thereof used without others.

I claim 1. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, having a valve, of electrical operating means for said valve comprising a magnet, having an interior air space, an

, armature, and means whereby said armature, in actuating said valve, also serves to circulate air through said air space, to cool the magnet.

2. The combination, in an internal combustion motor having a power cylinder, a valve and a valve seat for said cylinder, a valve stem and a spring surrounding said stem to hold said valve to its seat, of an open ended, annular, electro-magnet, mounted upon said cylinder, said magnet spaced from and surrounding said stem and spring, and a disk armature carried by said stem, to be alternately attracted to said magnet, and extended from said magnet by the action of said spring, for the operation of said valve.

3. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, having a valve seat, of a valve therefor, a valve stem, a spring to hold said valve to said seat, a circular electro-magnet surrounding said stem and spring, means supporting said electro-magnet upon said motor with an intervening air space, and a disk armature to be alternately attracted to said magnet, and extended from said magnet by the action of said spring, whereby said armature and magnet function as an air pump, to cool said magnet.

4:. The combination, in an internal combustion motor, having a valve, and an electro-magnet to operate said valve, of timing means included in the magnet circuit, said means comprising a stationary drum, a double, intersecting track therein having a conductive section, and a rotor carried by the motor shaft to travel around said track, whereby said valve magnet is energized for a portion of every other revolution of said motor shaft.

The combination, in an internal coinbustion motor, having valves, and an electro-magnet to operate each valve, of timing means included in each magnet circuit, said means comprising stationary drums having tracks with conductive sections, a rotor for each drum carried by the motor shaft. to travel around the respective tracks, and means for adjusting said drums revolubly, to thereby regulate said timing means.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, this 7th day of August, A. D. 1917.

WILLIAM C. HARRIGAN.

Witnesses:

F. WV. BARKER, A. B. BARKER. 

